Windmill



' 1154493192 R. R. v RICHARD f Mm 20, w23,

4, Sheessheet 1 WINDMILL Filedvyov. 15, 1922 l/ l l Mmm, 11923.

11,44%192 R. R. RICHARD WINDMILL Filed NoAv. l5, 1922 4 sheets-smeiI v2 R. R. RICHARD WINDMILL Filed Nov. l5, 1922 4 sheets-sheet 4 lidar.. 2li, 1923 l mii li' mi?? if im *Tf1 U l t1 Si ll All ROLAND ROLF RICHARD, F KYNUNA, NORTH QUEENSLAD, AUSTRALEA.

vvrunrartn Application filed November 13, 1922.

To all w from m (17,/ concern.'

.lle it lxuown that Bonini) lloLi` llrorninn. a suoject ot the King ot Great- Britain, residing` at liynuna, in the State olf North @neel-rusland, :insti-alia, has invented certain new and useful lmprovements in linch mills, olf' which the 'following is a. specification.

rlhis invention refers to windwheels o'li the horizontal type and consists of constructional improvements designed with the ol'- ject of attaining' lighti'icss consistent with necessary strength and to provide automatic means 'for retarding revolution ot the wind wheel during excessively stro-ng winds.

'further ol evt ol" the invention is to provide means for enablingl the wind wheel to revolve during wind of low pressure and for this purpos the wind wheel is mounted on 'a iloat supported in a liquid such as oil or water or oil and water contained preferably in a eist-ern whereby said {ioat supports the weight ot the wind wheel and thereby reduces friction.

ln the accompanying an elevation (broken) of the lloat is employed.

ll" 2 a vertical section of the windwheel,

drawings 1 is the mill, in which Fic'. 3 a plan.

Ll is an enlarged vertical section through parts or lilg. 2, and

'. 5 a detail vertical section through jj^ 'the windwheel.

lti'rs. 6 and are enlarged detail views (bro oit the crank gear.

Y 8 is a detail ot a modification ot the gea rliccording to this ii'ivention, the sails or vanes 1 hang vertically 'from horizontal ein cular rims 2, being set at the desired angle and joined at intervals by bracing sheets 3 1 and of metal or other suitable material set with their edges presented outwards and inclined upwards spirally so that the pressure on the lower part ot the vanes will be transmitted upwards to the rims 2 without twisting; the vanes 1 or otherwise damaging same.

rllhe upper rims 2 are supported by radial arms el., 5, suitably joined preferably to 'iorm cantilever trusses, the arm Ll being: provided with circular rail 6 2 and located immediately above stationary brake bloclrs i' (Figs. 1 and 2) which attached preterably to the rim ot a cistern 8. space serial no. eeofm.

provided between the circular' rails 6 and the brake blocks 7 is such as to allow contact ot' these parts under extra high speeds in high winds.

lt will be evident without illustration that the rail 6 might be lined to the top o' the cistern and the brake blocks to the arms ot the wind wheel.

The bralre blocks 7 as illustrated, are hinged as at 9 and one or more are provided with handles 11 so that they may be applied by hand when it is necessary to stop the windwheel rot-ating. The handle may he fixed by means of a bolt 12 passed through a rack bar 13. rlhe arms i are attached to a. central float located in the cistern 8 containing Water or oil or water and oil and supported on the trame and said ilo-at F is 'formed with a central sleeve or shatt- 14 provided with bearings 15, 16, that rotate around a hollow stationary shaft or axle 1T.

The bearings 15, 16 which may 'be either ball, .roller or such other lrinds as are in general use are connected together by means ot rods 18 to hold them in position relative to one another and enable them being withdrawn through the sleeve 14 and they are also provided with set screws 19 which pass through the sides oit the sleeve thus enabling; said sleeve and windwheel to be centralized and rotate evenly around its airis. The rods 18 are screwed or otherwise lined to the lower bearings 16 and passed through holes in the upper bearing' l5 and secured by nuts.

To the upper end ot the sleeve 11i is lined a boss 20 into which is lined the central rotary shaft 21 of the windwheel which er;- tends downwardly through the i ned shaft 17 and suitable bearings on the trame and is provided for insta-nre with a crank disc 22 (Fig. 1) to the crank pin 23 of which is connected a connecting` rod 2li operating' a balanced lever or boh 25 connected with a pump rod 26.

'With this construction Fig. 6, it is necessary that the bearingl portion of the oranlr pin 23 be partly spherical and engage a corresponding seating' 63 located in a rontalner 6er for lubricant, the boss 65 ot the crank disc also dipping` into the container. rllhe other end (36 ot the rod 2e lient down so that the pivot 67 on which it turns can be immersed in a container GS iilled with lubricant and fixed Vto the balance hob 25.

To the top ot one ot the arms 5 or else to an extension of the boss 20 a T-shaped cranl;

y its ends 73,

pin 27 is xed which is provided with a connecting arm 28 which receives reciprocating motion and may be connected for instance to a bell-crank 29 mounted on a tower -30 and connected to a pump rod or vertical arm 31 to convey power to a lower level. i y @wing tothe crank pin rotatingin a hori- Zontal plane and the bell crank'rocking in a vertical plane, provision must be made at the conneetions'to obtain smooth motion.

As illustrated in F ig. 7 the crank pin 27 works in a bearing 69 in an oil well 70 'protected from rain by a cover 71 on vthe arm 28 and said pin has a collar 72 engaging a recess in the bearing to prevent the pin rising.

The connecting arm 28 is bent down at 74 and one end 73 is connected to a cross head 75 on the pin, the limbs of said head being journalld in bearings 76 in the well.y

rl`he other bent end 74 ot the arm 28 is similarly connected with the cross head 77 of a vertical pin 78, the limbs of said head being mounted in bearings 79.

The vertical member of the bell crank is hollow and acts as a bearing for the pin 78 which is provided with a collar 80 engaging a recess in said member. The latter is provided at the top with an oil well 81 protected by a cover 82 on the arm 28.

rlhe pivot 83 of the bell crank is fixed in the walls of an oil well 84 fixed on the tower 30, and it engages bearings 85 on the bell crank, which is provided with a cover 86 to protect said. well.

The end 87 of the bell crank is bent and its pivot 91 is fixed in a cup 88 of the pump rod 31 which cup holds a lubricant and is protected by cover 89 fixed to the bell crank. The bell crank is provided with a bearing 90 which oscillates around its pivot 91.

The float F is provided on its side with small metal blades 32 (Fig. 2) bent outwardly to propel the water or oil towards the wall of the cistern during;` strong winds, thus allowing' the float F and the whole oit the windwheel to descend until the circular rail 6 is brought into frictional contact with the brake blocks 7.

Alternatively as shown in Fig. 2 blades 61 mcy be pivoted to the arms 5 and normally held out of contact with the liquid by a sirng 62 butV which by centrifugal action under hiph speed would dip into the liquid and retard the speed of the wind wheel.

The iioat F may be conical or of other suitable shapes and may be open at the top, or closed thereat and open at the bottom or it may be closed at both ends. l/Vhen stabilitv and smooth running; are essential it would be so designed that its centre ot' flotation is near or above the centre of ,Gravity ot the whole windwheel and the mately centre of wind pressure would be approxiopposite the lower bearinglt which would thereby become the centre o1 resistance thus minimizing the bendingmoments on the fixed shaft or axle 17 and the rocking of the windwheel during` irregular wind currents. l

Owing to this and the tact that the arms, 4, 5, upper rims 2 and otl'ier parts of the windwheel are necessarily aber-.fe the float F and only the lower rim 52 and part of the vanes 1 can project below the float F, the float is best made in the shape et the frus-l tum ot' a cone, (inverted) in order to raise the centre or flotation.

To prevent friction and consequent loss of power all stay bolts and other fastenings are located inside the 'Cleat and only the sheet metalorming' the outer skin beine` in contact with the water in which it is suspended.

The float F may be constructed in a variety of dierent ways. For instance it may be made entirely ot sheet metal of suf! Iicient thickness to stand the pressure oi the water and transmit this to the arms 4, 5 of the windwheel, but for reasons of economy it is preferable to make it of thinner sheet metal 33 as illustrated shape by means of an angle iron trame work attached to the sleeve 14 and 4, 5 of the wind wheel.

As shown in the drawings these supports consist of an angle iron ring- 35, (Fig. 2) to which the upper part of the sheet metal 33 is attached and which is in turn attached to the arms 4 ofthe wheel which serves the double purpose or" keeping; the upper part of the sheet metal circular and fastening it to the arms of the wheel. Angle iron ribs 34 attached to the above ring' 35 prevents the sheet metal collapsing inwardly and conveys the pressure due to the weight of the windwheel downwards or otherwise con- Veys the upward pressure oit the water to the arms of the wheel and also transmits the pressure exerted by the wind from the vanes 1 through the arms 4 down to the bottom bearing 16 of the sleeve 14.

These ribs 34 may be strengthened in case of large windmills by means of struts projecting inwardly towards the upper part of the sleeve 14 or the inner part ofy the arms 4 ot the wheel.

The lower ends of `these ribs 34 are tas tened to the flanged ring 36 which is 'liastened to the flanged ring` 37 screwed or otherwise fixed to the bottom of the sleeve 14.

The sheet metal 33 is iitted between the flanges of the rings 36 and 37 and tie joint is made water-tight by means kof red lead. putty, indiav rubber insertion or such other suitable material.

n cese it is preferred not to use the float F as` such or in cases whereit is desired to to the arms y and kept in take the weight of the windwheel as for inrepairs. 1n case the float is not required as' such the cistern may be reduced in area and merely contain lubricating oil for the working parts.

1vVhen the windwheel is supported upon the bearing 38 above the sleeve 39 the wind wheel cannot descend sufiiciently for the eifective use of the brakes in strong winds. it is necessary therefore to provide an additional brake for this purpose.

.5i suitable form of construction is shown in Fig. 8 and consists of a brake block 141 mounted on pivot 142, in such a position as to descend on the top of the cistern or a circular fixed rail 143 fixed thereto.

The biock is normally held clear above the rail 143 by a counter balance weight 144 on an arm 145 of the brake, said arm being connected to arm 4 of the frame by a spring 146.

From the axis of arm 145 extends an arm 147 pivotally connected at 148 to a connecting rod 149 pivotally connected to a suitably guided sliding weight 150 adapted to slide on a horizontal radial rail 151.

During strong wind centrifugal force overcomes the weight of the counterbalance weight 144 and tension on spring 146 and weight 150 moves outwardly and causes the block 141 to bear upon the rail 143.

To prevent the access of rain dust or other material into the float F and cistern 8 a cover of sheet metal 41 is fastened to the fioat F immediately under the arms 4, and over rail 6 and its edge 41a is turned downwardly to prevent rain being blown into the cistern. l

rihe cistern 8 may be made of any suitable material and of any shape but it is made preferably of thin sheet metal 42 supported in position and shape by an angle iron frame-work and is in shape conical corresponding' to that of the fio'at F.

The rrainc work consists of an angle iron ring 48 2) and ribs 44 which are placed on the outside to prevent any obstruction to the circulation of the water inside and thus minimize the friction on the float 7F.

The jointing of the sheet metal 42 is effected similarly to that of t-he float F except that the fianpjed ring 45 is on the inside and is bolted to the opposite flange 4c formed on the main supporting sleeve 39 of the hired shaft 17 said fiange 46 also forming the bottom of the cistern 8.

The conical f shape of the cistern 8 is preferable as it allows a freer circulation of the Wind inside andthrough the wind wheel as the wind being deflected by the vanes 1 at different angles creates a kind of vortex which assists the rotation of the wind wheel and a partial vacuum which occurs in the rear of the wind drum together with an uplift 'of the air currents due to theI resistance of thestructure renders the rear vanes more effective when there is less obstruction offered by the cistern.

In order to increase the buoyancy of the water in the cistern 8 and so reduce the size of both cistern and ioat, common salt or any other soluble compound of the alkali metals such as barium bromide, calcium bromide and the like may be added and in order to minimize or retard evaporation such salts as have an affinity,l for water may be added such as calcium chloride or barium chloride, furthermorel for the latter objects the surface of the water may be covered with oil.

Thesizes of the cistern and oat should be suflicient to carry the Wholev Weight of the windwheel but where the prevailing winds or other conditions admit they may be made of any lesser size provided they are sufficiently high to maintain a sufficient reserve of lubricating oil in the sleeve 14 and thus save attention and risk on the part of attendants, 1n this case the cistern may be entirely fiiled with oil.

`When possible in place of a cistern any natural or artificial water such as reservoirs or lagoons may be used in which case the windwheel would be mounted in same.

F or the purpose of providing lubrication for the bearings 15, 16 that will last a long` time, the space between the fixed shaft 17 and the sleeve 14 is filled with oil and in order to providev for a longer supply the space above the upper bearing 15 may be enlarged or the space may be permanently supplied by means of a storage cistern having a pipe connected with said space. The sleeve 14 may be made of cast iron in one piece but as lightness with strength are of importance it would be made of mild steel tubing in two pieces, joined by@ union lianges 92 (Fig. 4) the fixing bolts 93 passing through arms 4.

lThe rims 2 may be made in various Ways but preferably from channel or angle iron bars curved and fastened so as to form two concentric rings at a distance apa-rt that would be suitable for attaching the vanes or sails 1.

The vanes or sails 1 are attached to the rims 2 by means of brackets 50 made of sheet metal or light angle iron pressed into shape to suit the curvature of the vanes or sails one leg 51 of these brackets being horizontal and fastened to the rim rings 2 andthe other leg; beingvertical and attached tothe vanes. i

The lower ends of the vanes g-orsails are fastened lto, a rim52 whichiin the case of small lwindmills is -best made of Asegments of sheet-.metal suitably joined to whichthe venes are attached by ymeans of brackets lsimilar to those describedfor attachingthe wards.

This curva ture is maintained by the bracingfpieces of sheet metal cut and bent to the saine lcurvature as--the ,vanes and fastened in between the vanes by screws or rivets or soldered as in Fig. 5. These sheet metal braces 3 are also to be set at an angle soA that a series of theniwill forni aspiral reaching from the bottom rim 52 to the top rim 2 and so transmit.k the pressure received fromthefwind upwards to the armsl and 5 of thewindwlieel.

ln addition and to prevent torque of the vanes l in strongy winds certain varies at intervals and preferably those immediately below the arms of the wndwheel are made of entra strong sheet metal and are braced diagonally from vthe bottom of each vto the arms .p4 on both sides nearithe ends by means of curved andlinclined light iron rods or stout wires 53 (Fig. 5) as may be necessary. v y

l/Vhen the windwheel rotates a proportion of the vanesy or lsails must be always coming. up against the wind and those in front will present surfaces that are curvedv backwards from itr and those in the rear will .be coming; up mostly edge on to it,

while thisv back pressure is of little im-y portance in districts where the winds are strong; and constant it is otherwise where they arepnot and, forv this reason arotary wind screen fill, 55 is provided.

This wind screen is mounted on a fra-ineworlr 5G which is {nfl/'steden a shouldered seating'? on the sleeve 39 immediately u'nder the cistern 'el and is provided with three or more wheels 58 that run on a `circular rail `59 concentric with the windwheel and supportedon the main frame 40.

Attached to the frame worlr 56 and remote from the screen is a vane 157 similar to those of 4the annular type of windmill in general use and set atsuch an angle as to bring` the wind screens properly into position to screen the vanes l, moving` to windward. Y l

rlhe wind screen itself consists of the two `able strutted.

`oncomingvanes furtherl back from inside. yThe screens are made of sheet metal fasjk `tened. to` angle iron. supports 60 and the frame wor-lr 56 ismade of angle iron of snitcr0ss-sectional l claimzv l. A windmill comprising aliized vvertical shafta ,cistern snrrounding,` thc latter, a float` in the vcistern rotatably mounted on said shaft, and a horizontal wind wheel carried by the float and surrounding the cistern.

2. A. windmill .comprising a hollow sta.- tionary shaft, av shaft rotatable in the "ter,

a cistern surrounding the shafts, a sleeve inI vthe cistern rotatably mounted on the fixed shaft, a float carrying the sleeve and a horizontal wind wheel carried vby the sleeve and surrounding' the cisternn 3. A windmill coniprising` a hollow stationary shaft, a shaft rotatable in the latter, ra cistern surrounding the shafts, a sleeve in the cistern lsnrrounding the shafts, bearings mounted in the sleeve rotatable on the tionary shaft, rods adyustably connectinr the bearings, a float carrying the sleeve, a e a horinontally disposedV windwheel carried by the latter.

4. il windmill comprising; a frame, :i cistern mounted therein, a shaft extending; axially through the cistern, a sleeve rotatable on the shaft, a float carrying),- the sleeve,l a horizontally disposed windwheel carried byithelatte'r, a crank-pin carried `by the wheel, a vertically reciprocable rod, and aetuat'ing mechanism connecting` the latter with the cranlnpin n 5. A windmill comprising a frame, a cistern mounted therein, a stationary shaft extending axially through the cistern, a sleeve rotatable on the shaft, a float carry ing the sleeve, a horizontally disposed windwheell carried by the latter, central rotatable shaft oonnected with the sleeve, a crankldish mounted on the centraly shaft, a pump rod, and actuating mechanism connecting the latter with the crank disk,V

6. A windmill comprising a hollowstationary shaft, a shaft rotatable in the latter, a cistern surroundingthe shafts, a sleeve in the cistern rotatable onthe lined shaft. a

float connected to the sleeve, a horizontally area and suitablyk fixed shaft projecting through the latter, a sleeye rotatable on the Shaft, a float carrying the sleeve, annular horizontal Wheel elements connected with and carried by the sleeve, vertically disposed vaines mounted on the annular members, and wind shields arranged concentrically to the annular members on opposite sides of the vanes.

8. i` windmill comprising a frame, a conical cistern mounted thereon, a fixed hollowT shaft projecting axially through the cistern, a sleeve in the cistern rotatably mounted on and movable axially of the shaft, a conical ioat surrounding the sleeve and fixed to the lower end of the latter, a horizontally disposed wind Wheel connected to the upper end of the sleeve, said Wheel including a plurality of vertically arranged vanes, and vrind shields arranged concentrically to the axis of the Wheel adjustably mounted on the frame.

9. A Windmill comprising horizontally disposed annular members, radial supports therefor, a` rotatable and axially movable carrier for the supports, vertically disposed vanes carried by the annular members, and spirally arranged braces connecting t-he vanes.

10. A Windmill comprising a float, a rotatable and axially movable member carried thereby, a plurality of radial supporting members carried by the rotatable member, horizontally disposed annular frame members carried by the supporting mem bers, vertically disposed ranes depending from the latter', and spirally arranged metal plates connecting the vanes.

11. A Windmill comprising a oistern, a stationary shaft projecting axially through the latter, a sleeve rotatable and axially movable on the shaft, a float connected to the sleeve, radial arms projecting from the latter, a circular rail carried by the arms, brake member, arranged to engage the rail, and a plurality of vertically disposed vanes carried by the radial arms.

12. A Windmill comprising a. cistern, a float rotatable and axially movable therein, a plurality of radial arms carried by the float, a series of vanes carried by the said arms, a circular rail fixed to the underside of the latter, and brake blocks mounted beneath and adapted to engage the rail.

13. A Windmill comprising a cistern, a float rotatable and axially movable therein, a plurality of radial arms carried by the float, a series of vanes carried by said arms, a Wind screen for said vanes movable about the axis of the cistern, and a vane on the screen.

14:. A Windmill comprising a cistern` a oat rotatable and axially movable therein, a plurality of radial arms carried by the float, an annular series of vertically disposed vanes carried by the arms, curved plates mounted on opposite sides of the series of vanes, and a frame supporting the plates adapted to move them concentrically to the series of vanes.

15. fr windmill comprising a cistern, a conical float rotatable and axially movable therein, a horizontally disposed Wind Wheel carried by the float, and blades on the periphery of float for retarding the rotation of the latter.

Dated this fifth day of October 1922.

ROLAND ROLF R101-IARD. 

